Virginia

[WillWeaverRVA]

I found out between the wedding and reception of my friend on November 22nd (as both were at separate locations) that Richmond must have created its own bike route system at some point. This is on VA 161 NB between US 33/US 250 and Leigh St. (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10222043896366965&set=a.10222043900767075)

Yup. They appeared in 2012 and were a big deal at the time because the City of Richmond was making an effort to be friendlier to cyclists - they also started signing USBR 1 around then. Unfortunately, the city then realized this might actually help people and that they might actually have to sign other routes, so they stopped signing new bike routes. Only routes R2 and R3 exist, and the signage for them has gradually been disappearing without any replacements.

It also doesn't help that much of the routing of routes R2 and R3 is along streets that are absolutely not bicycle friendly, though bike lanes and sharrows have slowly popped up over time.

[74/171FAN]

The VA 92 replacement bridge over the Staunton River shows up in the revised Virginia 6-year plan...
http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/lineitemDetails.aspx?syp_scenario_id=233&line_item_id=1498338
$12M with construction starting in 2022.

I believe that was old US-360 before the relocation was built between Clover and Wylliesburg.

That bridge is old and decrepit.  Doesn't carry much traffic.  Wonder if they are going to keep part of the old truss structure on display.

Yes...was US 360 until the late 1960s.

The traffic count the last year the old bridge was open (2006) was 440.  It was a whopping 490 in 2001.

IMO it borders on a waste of money to rebuild the bridge because it is shorter and faster to reach Clover via US 360 across the river.  However, the Clover Power Station probably has truck traffic that the town of Clover would rather not see as they have to while there is no VA 92 bridge, so that may justify the expenditure....

So I found out today that the replacement VA 92 bridge is now under construction with anticipated completion in 2027 (can be seen on this map).  Information on this project was so hard to find that I ended up asking the contractor that was actually working today while sight clinching what I could in regard to VA 92 there. 

Photos in that area from 11/27/2024.  (https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBUPGC)

[plain]

VDOT says the Powhite Pkwy extension (the 1988 Chesterfield County portion) will become toll free in 2026 or 2027.

Not sure if this is a good idea, given the stretch between VA 150 and US 60 is in serious need of widening and future toll revenue can go towards that.


https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/12/13/more-money-pocket-vdot-take-down-75-cent-toll-powhite-parkway-extension/

[sprjus4]

VDOT says the Powhite Pkwy extension (the 1988 Chesterfield County portion) will become toll free in 2026 or 2027.

Not sure if this is a good idea, given the stretch between VA 150 and US 60 is in serious need of widening and future toll revenue can go towards that.


https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/12/13/more-money-pocket-vdot-take-down-75-cent-toll-powhite-parkway-extension/

VDOT actually sticking to their word and removing the tolls when the bonds are paid off, instead of extending it indefinitely

Great news!

"VDOT and the county made a promise many years ago that once the bonds were paid off by those who use the road, the tolls come down," he said.

[plain]

VDOT says the Powhite Pkwy extension (the 1988 Chesterfield County portion) will become toll free in 2026 or 2027.

Not sure if this is a good idea, given the stretch between VA 150 and US 60 is in serious need of widening and future toll revenue can go towards that.


https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/12/13/more-money-pocket-vdot-take-down-75-cent-toll-powhite-parkway-extension/

VDOT actually sticking to their word and removing the tolls when the bonds are paid off, instead of extending it indefinitely

Great news!

"VDOT and the county made a promise many years ago that once the bonds were paid off by those who use the road, the tolls come down," he said.

Yeah that's the obvious plus about it as not too many agencies actually keep that promise. I know KY did it as well as CO (Denver-Boulder Tpk) and TX (Dallas-Fort Worth Tpk).

The former RPT is obviously toll-free now but VDOT issued a new bond when they it took over from the RPTA so they can widen it from Maury St southward, and after that used toll funds to fund other projects in the area. If it wasn't for I-295, that road would've probably been tolled longer


http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Richmond_Interstate_Expy.html

[WillWeaverRVA]

VDOT says the Powhite Pkwy extension (the 1988 Chesterfield County portion) will become toll free in 2026 or 2027.

Not sure if this is a good idea, given the stretch between VA 150 and US 60 is in serious need of widening and future toll revenue can go towards that.


https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/12/13/more-money-pocket-vdot-take-down-75-cent-toll-powhite-parkway-extension/

I'm not sure sufficient ROW exists for that.

[plain]

VDOT says the Powhite Pkwy extension (the 1988 Chesterfield County portion) will become toll free in 2026 or 2027.

Not sure if this is a good idea, given the stretch between VA 150 and US 60 is in serious need of widening and future toll revenue can go towards that.


https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/12/13/more-money-pocket-vdot-take-down-75-cent-toll-powhite-parkway-extension/

I'm not sure sufficient ROW exists for that.

Yeah definitely going to be a tight squeeze (if it ever happens) with the houses on one side and the lake on the other.

[WillWeaverRVA]

VDOT says the Powhite Pkwy extension (the 1988 Chesterfield County portion) will become toll free in 2026 or 2027.

Not sure if this is a good idea, given the stretch between VA 150 and US 60 is in serious need of widening and future toll revenue can go towards that.


https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/12/13/more-money-pocket-vdot-take-down-75-cent-toll-powhite-parkway-extension/

I'm not sure sufficient ROW exists for that.

Yeah definitely going to be a tight squeeze (if it ever happens) with the houses on one side and the lake on the other.

In any event, this is great. My commute to work usually involves shooting straight down SR 653/SR 604 to VA 10, but once the tolls are gone I'll be able to hop on Powhite to get over to VA 288.

[74/171FAN]

In any event, this is great. My commute to work usually involves shooting straight down SR 653/SR 604 to VA 10, but once the tolls are gone I'll be able to hop on Powhite to get over to VA 288.

I was thinking, "why would you want to get on VA 76 to VA 288", and then I remembered how bad it is to cross US 360 on SR 653.

Of course, I doubt I could ever stop driving the SR 604/SR 653 corridor due to personal nostalgia. 

[WillWeaverRVA]

In any event, this is great. My commute to work usually involves shooting straight down SR 653/SR 604 to VA 10, but once the tolls are gone I'll be able to hop on Powhite to get over to VA 288.

I was thinking, "why would you want to get on VA 76 to VA 288", and then I remembered how bad it is to cross US 360 on SR 653.

Of course, I doubt I could ever stop driving the SR 604/SR 653 corridor due to personal nostalgia. 

Yup, that intersection is the worst.

[1995hoo]

From VDOT. I find this interesting. I'll cross-post it to the "interesting signs" thread.

https://x.com/VaDOTStaunton/status/1871185030040453192

[sprjus4]

From VDOT. I find this interesting. I'll cross-post it to the "interesting signs" thread.

https://x.com/VaDOTStaunton/status/1871185030040453192

You'd think if turning vehicles has presented a safety issue, especially for such a large subdivision, they'd add a turning lane or at least look into it.

[froggie]

You'd think if turning vehicles has presented a safety issue, especially for such a large subdivision, they'd add a turning lane or at least look into it.

Turn lanes require environmental documentation and a lot more right-of-way and construction than a sign.  And in this particular case, a turn lane would require taking out a steep berm right next to the roadway while the road itself is on a downhill.

[sprjus4]

You'd think if turning vehicles has presented a safety issue, especially for such a large subdivision, they'd add a turning lane or at least look into it.

Turn lanes require environmental documentation and a lot more right-of-way and construction than a sign.  And in this particular case, a turn lane would require taking out a steep berm right next to the roadway while the road itself is on a downhill.

I'm aware of that - it just seems to me that a development that large should've had a turn lane put in when it was built originally. A bit of an oversight.

If the turn is problematic enough even with a sign, it should be at least studied.

[froggie]

It's not a very large development.  It's basically an HOA that formed along a ridge.  Parts have existed at least since the 1980s, looking at Historic Aerials.

My guess is it wasn't really a problem until recently.

[seicer]

These work okay in theory. I've encountered a few where they have been malfunctioning (in Indiana). One was flashing when there was no vehicle present; another wasn't flashing when there was a vehicle present. Both are relatively new installations.

[1995hoo]

VDOT's Northern Virginia District posted a tweet about how they are responsible for plowing 14,238 lane-miles of road. The part of it I found the most interesting was the following map link, which shows what those roads are. This is great to send to the types of neighbors who complain that "the county" isn't plowing quickly enough. (I'll never understand why people can't seem to accept that neighborhood streets are quite rightly a lower priority than arterials.)

https://vdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=c4fa0decb88e49febc10a490221cb267&ID=23245

[Dirt Roads]

VDOT's Northern Virginia District posted a tweet about how they are responsible for plowing 14,238 lane-miles of road. The part of it I found the most interesting was the following map link, which shows what those roads are. This is great to send to the types of neighbors who complain that "the county" isn't plowing quickly enough. (I'll never understand why people can't seem to accept that neighborhood streets are quite rightly a lower priority than arterials.)

https://vdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=c4fa0decb88e49febc10a490221cb267&ID=23245

Had to laugh when I pulled up this map.  VA-9 was not shown as a "Snow Route" from Harpers Ferry Road (SR-671) out to the West Virginia Line.  (It was a mapping issue, as this segment does show up when you scroll in some).  But back in the day, folks out in West Virginia would "enjoy" that VDOT didn't keep this section plowed as well the segment from Hillsboro -to- Clarks Gap.  (Folks that weren't originally from West Virginia might not have enjoyed that segment in the snow as much, as West Virginians tended to love driving in the snow).

[Mapmikey]

I will extol the virtues of living in a well run independent city. We got 7"...my residential street was passable by daybreak Monday and 2 lanes dry pavement early today. Even after 1+ foot snowfalls it is passable within 24 hrs.

Since I have no driveway it takes me 3 days to dig my car out of street parking, though.

[Rothman]

I will extol the virtues of living in a well run independent city. We got 7"...my residential street was passable by daybreak Monday and 2 lanes dry pavement early today. Even after 1+ foot snowfalls it is passable within 24 hrs.

Since I have no driveway it takes me 3 days to dig my car out of street parking, though.

But...could you only get to the border of the independent city and no farther?

[1995hoo]

I will extol the virtues of living in a well run independent city. We got 7"...my residential street was passable by daybreak Monday and 2 lanes dry pavement early today. Even after 1+ foot snowfalls it is passable within 24 hrs.

Since I have no driveway it takes me 3 days to dig my car out of street parking, though.

I haven't had to go anywhere yet. Our street was pretty clear Monday morning—I heard the HOA plow come through when I was brushing my teeth that morning—and then yesterday it got cleared down to bare pavement. The VDOT street that leads out is packed snow but looks passable. We have Caps tickets tonight, so I guess I'll find out how the roads are. At least to some limited extent, anyway—with the Carter funeral causing road closures and motorcades in DC, we'll take the Metro to this one rather than driving all the way in.

[WillWeaverRVA]

I will extol the virtues of living in a well run independent city. We got 7"...my residential street was passable by daybreak Monday and 2 lanes dry pavement early today. Even after 1+ foot snowfalls it is passable within 24 hrs.

Since I have no driveway it takes me 3 days to dig my car out of street parking, though.

Glad you specified "well-run" since Richmond hasn't had water since yesterday.

[Thing 342]

Cross-post from the Buc-ee's thread, this is the first I've heard about rebuilding Exit 211 after the I-64 widening:

This article from the Daily Press (might be paywalled) states that the intention (couldn't find any documentation of this on VDOT's web site) is to reconfigure the interchange to a DDI to support the new AutoZone distribution center and other industrial locations on the south side of I-64. I think this is intended to start after Phase A of the widening is completed in 2027, with Buc-ees opening with an "interim configuration" until a possible completion date in 2030.

https://www.dailypress.com/2024/05/07/buc-ees-still-plans-to-open-in-new-kent-in-2027/

[1995hoo]

In the book-reading thread over on the off-topic subforum, I mentioned that my mother gave me a book for Christmas named A Place Called Ilda about a community that grew up in the late 1800s around the intersection of Little River Turnpike and Guinea Road in Fairfax County. That community faded away but resurfaced in the news during the past 20 years because of an unmarked graveyard that was at the southwest corner of said intersection—it led to a controversy when VDOT was widening the roads. Ultimately the site was excavated and the human remains they found were re-interred at Pleasant Valley Cemetery a little ways east down Route 236.

What prompts me to note it here is that the author mentions that at one point, the intersection of Little River and Guinea—which is a T-intersection now if you don't count the entrance to the Jewish Community Center and the service road on the north side—used to be a crossroads. At some point, a couple of landowners in Ilda built a "country road" that headed north to somewhere along the road that became known as Lee Highway. It sounds like "country roads" were unimproved dirt roads whose maintenance depended on the good graces of the people who built them. That road faded away at some point when the people who built it moved away, although Woodburn Road already existed by that time and became the primary route for heading to Merrifield and Falls Church. (As someone who grew up traveling Woodburn Road in the 1970s and 1980s, including riding the school bus over the old one-lane bridge, I found it somewhat disturbing to read about how the black kids from Ilda had to walk three miles to a colored school in Merrifield using Woodburn Road, which is anything but a safe road on which to walk.) Prosperity Avenue was built later. What I thought was interesting was that it seemed eminently sensible that the road north to Lee Highway would run directly from the end of Guinea, whereas Prosperity deflects at some point and intersects Little River a short distance to the east. I couldn't help but wonder what the traffic patterns would have been like had the old "country road" been upgraded instead. (Development would have no doubt been altered. The "country road" would have run through part of what is now Ridgelea Hills, for example.)

I remember when I was in first grade at Pine Ridge Elementary (what is now the police station on Woodburn Road), we took a walking field trip to the fire station on Little River and we used two paths through the woods, one from the corner of Prosperity and Leroy Place to the other piece of Leroy and then another from the corner of Leroy and Pineland Street to the fire station. (Think about all the ways this would never be allowed today: An entire first-grade class walking on streets with no sidewalks, crossing where there is no stop sign or crosswalk, and then using paths through the woods, all as part of a school trip.) Neither path exists anymore. The one from Prosperity was fenced off by a homeowner and the one from Pineland is gone because the back part of Ridgelea Hills (Sandalwood and Laro Courts) now occupies that land. But after reading the book, I couldn't help but wonder whether the path I remember us using as a kid might have used the remains of that old "country road." (My mom was a "field trip mother" on that trip and she said she thought of the same thing when she read the book.)

I wonder how many of today's roads are upgrades of old privately built "country roads" and how many of such simply faded away. A road like Woodburn Road certainly feels like one that was sort of arbitrarily plopped down on the land in a random way, for example.

[1995hoo]

https://x.com/vadotstaunton/status/1883890663290270169?s=61&t=b6K8m7mnCl3hI8EuxEn4og